David Frum asks recently, “Does anyone still remember the Chicago Seven?” I do. As a matter of fact, I was a friend of one of the defendants, Tom Hayden. And additionally, I was around at the time and I knew about their strategy going into court, which he very accurately defines thus:
And following the Rittenhouse trial, here is an excerpt from one article I read:
"In post-trial interviews, members of the jury will admit that they were offended by the prosecution's attempts to portray a poor, screwed-up kid as some kind of killer. Sure, he shot two people to death and gravely wounded a third with an AR-15 he wasn't old enough to legally own or wield—but standing one's ground and shooting your way out of a jam is as American as apple pie. That makes him a patriot—not a killer, right?"
The rule of law and the belief that things done 50-60 years ago might lead people to act differently. But the French are right: "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose." (The more things change, the more they remain the same.)
I was 10 that summer. My folks were very interested in the outcome of the trial (they were incredibly liberal for the "old fogies" that I thought they were.) My Dad was horrified at the judge's conduct, and said that the "shenanigans" of the defendants was the other side of a plug nickel coin. I'd give just about anything to be able to talk to him about today's horrific political climate. I know he'd have something to say...
Another well reasoned, informed and convincing analysis of the conundrum we find ourselves in. I struggle to identify leaders who can martial enough Americans willing to define and champion the changes we need to correct the course of American history. I grieve.
Excellent, cogent description of our current political reality. Depressing situation, heartbreaking reality. Damn, I wish you were wrong, but I know that you are right in your assessment.
Thank you TC. It’s good to read the truth and feel sane. There is a reason for the terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that never lets up. I am horrified and frightened that insanity is the state of so many minds and has taken control of so many institutions.
Unfortunately I believe that the only cure for the kind of insanity we’re seeing is a desire on the part of the individual to wake up…and that involves hard work. The addiction to the adrenaline and emotion of fear and rage is full blown and fed nonstop. I feel pretty hopeless but don’t give up and the company of writers like you and HCR and all the people who comment and care is a big part of the reason.
I’m so tempted every time someone jumps on the DOJ as being at “fault” for not stopping the madness in a much quicker fashion, to reply in a scathing fashion. My belief is that’s where the fascist minions want us to be. Yelling at Merrick Garland, yelling at President Biden, dismissing every woman such as Nancy Pelosi for doing anything in a conspiratorial called for political fashion to upend the traitors, listening to every media source fight against each other instead of informing the American people correctly. I’m inclined to remind people, dumb is unavoidable. It’s part of the intelligence shuffle. Stupid is a choice and perfectly avoidable. Your post, TC, outlines exactly what must be done as activist measures when someone wrings their damn hands and whines, “but what can little ol’me do stop the madness…write more postcards? No one seems to listen. My representatives don’t respond.” That’s all fine and well if used as a “normal” political diversion. Lesson to be learned from the Chicago Seven, however, as far as turning the tide to drown the un-dem mass as I refer to them.
I will not (I’m stamping my foot as I say this) blame the legal system for delay or incompetence. Atty Gen Garland and his dept and every competent judge in our land are working as designed in a fair and judicial manner. I support the Office of President, Congress. In other words, I support our democracy. Wars are won in the trenches. I find no hate in my heart towards the opposing citizenry supporting the authoritarian takeover, knowingly or stupidly. What I will not do is wring my hands. To be a citizen in a democracy calls on us to act like it. I will stare down any person staring at my mask in the grocery. I will destroy any CRT argument coming from an uniformed goofball. I will love my neighbor and contribute to my community. I will not be bullied. I will don my cape and my lightsaber and cut through the really stupid discourse that is intended to bring our democracy down. It will not be on my watch.
Wonder Woman lives again! I salute a fellow slinger of the Lasso of Hestia! May truth and justice prevail! I'm not afraid either. Angry, you're darn tootin' but adrenalin can produce fight OR fight and I prefer the former!
We are marching into dystopian territory that will end a lot of lives prematurely. We’re going to hit the million mark soon. That could be just the beginning.
Have been thinking about this TAFM for two days. You got me thinking beyond usual bifurcations. ( think what you could do with that word TC!)
Last night I read Anne Applebaum's long article in
The Atlantic on Autocracy, Inc. She and you and Frum are all trying to get us to bust out of our old limited and ineffective categories, rules, thinking. The battles of this century are being played in "multiverse" and "metaverse" and with the strangest of bedfellows. It is so absolutely difficult and feels almost impossible to know the rules of engagement in this rapidly moving and developing game we are in!
Why is there no sense of urgency about this? Is Mr. Biden really asleep? It seems so. The Trumpies constantly stream their poisonous prattle to anyone who will listen, while the Dems produce nothing but a constant stream of gim’me messages that do nothing but put the faithful to sleep. As it stands, I can see no future that doesn’t lose the senate and return the Orange Menace to office in ‘24. We need a MESSAGE. We need to see some PRODUCTION, not just that watered-down infrastructure bill. We need a leader who will LEAD. Most of all, we need some NOISE to divert the attention of the millennial masses from tattoos and painted-on women’s fashion.
You are completely on target. Reported in today's WaPo:
"Bannon, 67, walked through a group of photographers outside the FBI field office in downtown Washington. Bannon told the news media, “I don’t want anybody to take their eye off the ball for what we do every day. . .We’re taking down the Biden regime.”
He will turn this into a media event, we can count on it. He will make money off it too. We can count on that as well.
And following the Rittenhouse trial, here is an excerpt from one article I read:
"In post-trial interviews, members of the jury will admit that they were offended by the prosecution's attempts to portray a poor, screwed-up kid as some kind of killer. Sure, he shot two people to death and gravely wounded a third with an AR-15 he wasn't old enough to legally own or wield—but standing one's ground and shooting your way out of a jam is as American as apple pie. That makes him a patriot—not a killer, right?"
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/11/12/white-tears-over-kenosha?
IMHO, the rule of law is on trial in both Kenosha, Wisconsin and Brunswick, Georgia.
The rule of law and the belief that things done 50-60 years ago might lead people to act differently. But the French are right: "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose." (The more things change, the more they remain the same.)
This is a fantastic column. Wish I'd written it myself.
Well, that's the closest I'll get to an Oscar! Thanks!
I was 10 that summer. My folks were very interested in the outcome of the trial (they were incredibly liberal for the "old fogies" that I thought they were.) My Dad was horrified at the judge's conduct, and said that the "shenanigans" of the defendants was the other side of a plug nickel coin. I'd give just about anything to be able to talk to him about today's horrific political climate. I know he'd have something to say...
Another well reasoned, informed and convincing analysis of the conundrum we find ourselves in. I struggle to identify leaders who can martial enough Americans willing to define and champion the changes we need to correct the course of American history. I grieve.
TC, I agree with you 100% from beginning to end.
That's a good way to be "loved." :-)
Excellent, cogent description of our current political reality. Depressing situation, heartbreaking reality. Damn, I wish you were wrong, but I know that you are right in your assessment.
Thank you TC. It’s good to read the truth and feel sane. There is a reason for the terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that never lets up. I am horrified and frightened that insanity is the state of so many minds and has taken control of so many institutions.
Unfortunately I believe that the only cure for the kind of insanity we’re seeing is a desire on the part of the individual to wake up…and that involves hard work. The addiction to the adrenaline and emotion of fear and rage is full blown and fed nonstop. I feel pretty hopeless but don’t give up and the company of writers like you and HCR and all the people who comment and care is a big part of the reason.
Possibly your best ever. I’ve said that before and will undoubtedly say it again
Very depressing, though
As Churchill said, "When you're going through hell, keep on going."
I’m so tempted every time someone jumps on the DOJ as being at “fault” for not stopping the madness in a much quicker fashion, to reply in a scathing fashion. My belief is that’s where the fascist minions want us to be. Yelling at Merrick Garland, yelling at President Biden, dismissing every woman such as Nancy Pelosi for doing anything in a conspiratorial called for political fashion to upend the traitors, listening to every media source fight against each other instead of informing the American people correctly. I’m inclined to remind people, dumb is unavoidable. It’s part of the intelligence shuffle. Stupid is a choice and perfectly avoidable. Your post, TC, outlines exactly what must be done as activist measures when someone wrings their damn hands and whines, “but what can little ol’me do stop the madness…write more postcards? No one seems to listen. My representatives don’t respond.” That’s all fine and well if used as a “normal” political diversion. Lesson to be learned from the Chicago Seven, however, as far as turning the tide to drown the un-dem mass as I refer to them.
I will not (I’m stamping my foot as I say this) blame the legal system for delay or incompetence. Atty Gen Garland and his dept and every competent judge in our land are working as designed in a fair and judicial manner. I support the Office of President, Congress. In other words, I support our democracy. Wars are won in the trenches. I find no hate in my heart towards the opposing citizenry supporting the authoritarian takeover, knowingly or stupidly. What I will not do is wring my hands. To be a citizen in a democracy calls on us to act like it. I will stare down any person staring at my mask in the grocery. I will destroy any CRT argument coming from an uniformed goofball. I will love my neighbor and contribute to my community. I will not be bullied. I will don my cape and my lightsaber and cut through the really stupid discourse that is intended to bring our democracy down. It will not be on my watch.
Scary, but I am not afraid.
You're a wonder, Christine.
Wonder Woman lives again! I salute a fellow slinger of the Lasso of Hestia! May truth and justice prevail! I'm not afraid either. Angry, you're darn tootin' but adrenalin can produce fight OR fight and I prefer the former!
One edit in this perfect piece: In your 12th paragraph, did you mean January 20, 2025 -rather than 2015- for the Republican takeover? Thanks).
Thanks for catching that - fixed!
Thanks! Now I will share far and wide!
We are marching into dystopian territory that will end a lot of lives prematurely. We’re going to hit the million mark soon. That could be just the beginning.
Too true.
Have been thinking about this TAFM for two days. You got me thinking beyond usual bifurcations. ( think what you could do with that word TC!)
Last night I read Anne Applebaum's long article in
The Atlantic on Autocracy, Inc. She and you and Frum are all trying to get us to bust out of our old limited and ineffective categories, rules, thinking. The battles of this century are being played in "multiverse" and "metaverse" and with the strangest of bedfellows. It is so absolutely difficult and feels almost impossible to know the rules of engagement in this rapidly moving and developing game we are in!
Carol wins the intertoobz again! :-)
Why is there no sense of urgency about this? Is Mr. Biden really asleep? It seems so. The Trumpies constantly stream their poisonous prattle to anyone who will listen, while the Dems produce nothing but a constant stream of gim’me messages that do nothing but put the faithful to sleep. As it stands, I can see no future that doesn’t lose the senate and return the Orange Menace to office in ‘24. We need a MESSAGE. We need to see some PRODUCTION, not just that watered-down infrastructure bill. We need a leader who will LEAD. Most of all, we need some NOISE to divert the attention of the millennial masses from tattoos and painted-on women’s fashion.
You are completely on target. Reported in today's WaPo:
"Bannon, 67, walked through a group of photographers outside the FBI field office in downtown Washington. Bannon told the news media, “I don’t want anybody to take their eye off the ball for what we do every day. . .We’re taking down the Biden regime.”
He will turn this into a media event, we can count on it. He will make money off it too. We can count on that as well.
You're exactly right, Ellen.
I am stunned. THIS IS IT. Now it all makes, perfect, horrid sense. Thank you, TC. I think.